Discounts and offers for international students in Canada
International students in Canada have several opportunities to save money on goods and services in the country.
There are many discounts and offers aimed at international students, encompassing everyday goods such as groceries and school supplies, mobile phone and internet plans, and even some luxury items.
CIC News has prepared the following guide to help new international students find discounts on essential goods and services, as they begin their journey in Canada.
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Food and Grocery
Students have access to discounts on food and groceries from several merchants:
| Store / service name | Type of store / service | Student discount details |
|---|---|---|
| Food Basics | Budget grocery store | 10% off on Tuesdays |
| Bulk Barn | Bulk food store | 15% off on Wednesdays. |
| UberEats | Food and grocery delivery service | $4.99 per month for 10% off and free delivery |
Terms and conditions
Food Basics:
- Students can receive a 10% discount on groceries every Tuesday. This offer is valid for in-store purchases only.
- To benefit from the discount, students must present valid identification at the time of purchase.
- Only available at select stores in Ontario, specifically branches in: Guelph, Hamilton, Kingston, Oxford St., London, and Windsor.
Bulk Barn:
- To qualify, students must provide valid identification, such as a high school, college, or university ID.
- This discount applies to regular-priced products and can be combined with other promotions, such as $3 off and $5 off coupons. However, some restrictions may apply during certain promotions, and the discount cannot be used on gift card purchases.
Uber Eats:
- Students get a special price of $4.99 per month on an Uber One membership, which provides:
- $0 delivery fees on orders; and
- 10% off at participating stores.
- Students must provide their: first name, last name, birthday (and be over the age of 18), school email address, and school name to verify eligibility for this discount.
Price matching retailers
In addition to these offers, many stores also have price-matching programs, wherein stores will match the price for certain goods and items if the same good or item is available from a local competitor at a lower cost
The following table breaks down stores where price-matching is available, and what conditions each store may have:
| Store | Type of store | Price-matching policy |
|---|---|---|
| No Frills | Budget grocery store | Price matching on identical and comparable items that are offered for less at competitor stores. |
| Real Canadian Superstore | Supermarket and department store | Will sell identical items for 1¢ less than the competitor’s advertised price. |
| Giant Tiger | Budget grocery and department store | Allows shoppers both online and in-store to request price matching to competitor prices. |
Students in different parts of Canada can use similar price-matching programs at stores such as Save on Foods, Maxi, and IGA. Each company’s policy page features complete details on price-matching terms and conditions.
Terms and conditions
No Frills:
- If a major supermarket competitor within a store's geographic trade area advertises a lower price for an identical or comparable item available in the store, customers can present the competitor's advertisement during the effective date of that advertisement, and the store will match the lower price.
- For a list of local competitors included in the store's price match program, customers can visit their local No Frills store.
Real Canadian Superstore:
- The “Lowest Price” policy ensures that if a discount supermarket competitor within the store's geographic trade area offers a lower price on any item carried in the store, Real Canadian Superstore will sell that item for 1¢ less than the competitor’s advertised price.
- The customer must present the competitor’s current flyer (either print or digital). These guarantees apply to identical items (same brand, size, and attributes) or comparable items in the case of private labels (the competitor’s private label product of the same size and attributes).
Giant Tiger:
- If customers present a current advertisement for an identical product that is offered at a lower price, Giant Tiger will offer the product for 1¢ less than the competitor's pricing.
Software
Students may have access to some software licenses for free, or at reduced rates, through their educational programs.
For software they purchase on their own, there are also student discounts available:
| Merchant | Offer |
|---|---|
| Microsoft | Free access to Microsoft Teams |
| 50% off Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) | |
| Spotify | $5.99/month for Spotify Premium |
| Amazon | $4.99 CAD per month for Prime Student. First 6 months free. |
Terms and conditions
Microsoft:
- Teams offers are open to students and teachers free of cost. School emails must be verified through the domain using Microsoft’s system;
- Microsoft 365 offers are only available to students of registered post-secondary educational institutions, and include the full suite of Microsoft Office software, in addition to options to bundle deals with Microsoft electronics.
Spotify:
- Students of accredited educational institutions can receive the first month of Spotify Premium for free, after which they will need to pay $5.99 CAD per month.
- Only students at accredited educational institutions are eligible for this offer. Previous premium users and residents of Quebec cannot avail this offer either.
Amazon:
- Students can receive 50% off ($4.99 CAD/monthly) for a Prime subscription until their 25th birthday;
- Quebec residents receive a seven-month membership of $7.99 CAD per month, instead of a trial;
- Students must verify either their student status or their age, with several options to do so.
Student discount cards
International students in Canada can get two cards, each of which offers a range of discounts and deals:
| Student card | Discounts offered |
|---|---|
| Student Price Card (SPC) | Up to 25% savings. Over 450 discounts. |
| International Student Identity Card (ISIC) | Many discounts available worldwide, including for travel, shopping, museums, and more. |
SPC Card
The SPC (Student Price Card) is Canada’s most popular student discount program, costing $11.99 CAD per year. This membership grants students access to over 450 discounts, with savings of up to 25% on a wide variety of brands.
In addition, SPC’s website often showcases eligible discounts that students can receive with the SPC card.
To be eligible for an SPC card, students must show an eligible student ID when signing up and may further be asked to show their student ID when claiming discounts with their SPC card. SPC memberships are valid for one year from the time of activation and must be renewed each year.
ISIC Card
The ISIC (International Student Identity Card) is available to both international and domestic students and is the only internationally recognized student ID.
More than 4.5 million students from 130 countries use their ISIC annually, making cardholders members of a global community. The ISIC provides access to a wide range of discounts on travel, shopping, museums, and more, both in Canada and around the world.
Students can manage their ISIC through the free ISIC app, where they can access their digital card, browse and filter discounts, save their favorite offers, and redeem them.
To be eligible for an ISIC card, students must prove that they are currently studying full-time at a school, college, or university. Students must present one of the following documents to this end:
- A copy of their university or student identity card, clearly dated and indicating they are a full-time student; or
- A signed and dated letter on official university or school stationery stating they are studying at the institution full-time. ISIC prefers original copies but may accept photocopies or faxes.
In addition, students will need:
- Proof of their date of birth (for example, passport, birth certificate, Official Identity Card issued in your country of residence); and
- A recent passport-sized photograph of themselves.
Discounts for eligible ISIC card holders and members can also be found through the free ISIC mobile application.
Other key resources
There are other resources available to help students find discounts and offers.
StudentBeans
StudentBeans is a discount program that connects students to a wide range of deals on products such as health, beauty, and tech. StudentBeans offers deals specifically for Canadian students, allowing them to shop, receive discounts, and pay in Canadian dollars.
UNiDAYS
UNiDAYS is a popular discount platform that links students to numerous affiliated retailers offering special discounts. Students 16 or older can register for free, and access deals across various categories, including clothing, technology, health, and fitness.
Campus Resources
Most schools also have local services, which can be valuable sources of discounts and offers. Many post-secondary campuses have a dedicated student office where students can seek information on how the school operates, as well as learn about available discounts and freebies.
Student unions frequently negotiate exclusive deals with both major brands and local businesses, providing unique savings opportunities on a range of products and services. Additionally, campus offices are excellent places to find out about campus-specific sales and giveaways, second-hand markets for school supplies, and more.
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